Voting Rights Act ruling draws emotional response

June 26, 2013 | AP The Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act is drawing emotional responses from minority lawmakers. Recounting their roles in getting the 1965 law passed, Congressmen John Lewis of Georgia and John Conyers of Michigan say the court's decision ignores history and the continuing efforts to deny voting rights to minorities.

The high court said Congress must come up with new data to justify continuing to make states and local jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination get Justice Department approval before changing their election laws.

Conyers is the longest-serving black in Congress. In his words: "We don't have a choice."

Lewis was severely beaten in the civil rights marches of the 1960s campaigning for the law. He says: "We don't want to go back." .